Tuesday, December 21, 2010

Stanley lives across the street from me, he's half of fraternal twins, a robust man of color in his late sixty's. Stanley's gate is painfully tentative, he walks as though he was chained at the ankles, the results of a stroke brought on from 3 gun shots to his chest. He manages conversation with his staccato lisp, when he calls me over,I go armed with patience and attentiveness because he is relentless to share whatever is on his mind.
One day not unlike any other, he calls me over because he had something for me. I was working in the garden and needed a couple of minutes to take off my gloves and wash my hands. When I got to his house, he leaned forward from his steps and handed me an umbrella. Stanley stutters, "take it,you might need it one day". I'm thinking, yea right, it's one of those spring like sunny afternoon's easterners dream about during bitter storms. I thank him and reluctantly took the umbrella, It was one of those .99 cent cheapies but still to good to throw into the trash. Besides, Stanley gave it to me in such a protective caring way.(guilt) I would later throw it in the trunk of my car.
Several months later I was having some sensitivity to the sun, feeling faint from it's radiating hot glare, it felt as if it was pounding me into the asphalt. It was an otherwise lovely outing and I didn't want to be forced to go home. It was then remembered that Stanly's umbrella was in the trunk of my car! Thank you Stanley!
I'm realizing that there is purpose in all things, I may not see it at that moment, but time and time again I realize that there is an evolved wisdom that sustains me.The trick is to remember this wisdom when shit hits the fan....FAITH! ~Happy New Year!~
Shalom

Tuesday, December 14, 2010

The last couple of months have gone by in a blur..I suppose my attention was divided between the two gardens that I've recently completed .I never look forward to down time, but the truth of the matter is that I need to replenish my creative energy and dawn my Domestic Diva cap around my own household!
My garden is flush with layers of color and texture, appreciating the recent precipitation since it depends on natural rainfall. My navel oranges beckon to be picked creating a bounty to be shared.

The cool weather summons a fire in the hearth and fresh baked bread. I'm thinking that my bread would be a wonderful gift to share over the holidays. I find that baking bread is nurturing on so many levels, the coolness and texture of the flour is delightfully sensual.
The warmth of the oven,and the scent of the flour and yeast baking is difficult to describe other that it is soulfully mouth watering.

I haven't been bombarded with the usual Christmas frenzy since I do not watch television, and I can't tell you when was the last time I stepped foot in a mall. I use my down time to make goodies for friends, chop a supply of wood for the fire and listen to the classic sounds of Ella, Carmen, Sara, Miles, Coltrane on my turntable!
That's what I call slow living! I appreciate the slower pace I manage to create in my household, well, as slow as you can get with a rambunctious teenager a foot! Giving back to self is the foundation for sharing in my humble opinion. The gift of time well spent with loved ones, breaking bread and sharing conversation are what memories are made of. When Last I checked, you couldn't find that kind of gift on store shelves and you won't find that kind of gift on the markdown isle or the "as is"
section of the store. Giving or sharing is not an all or nothing proposition for one day that happens to fall on December 25th. I say, everyday one can share something even if it's no more than a kind word or gesture. However you spend your holiday, make it MEMORABLE, make it BOUNTIFUL make it SOULFUL.Peace~

OLD SCHOOL BRAND LAUNDRY SOAP

A passed down tradition! A little goes a long way! No bubbles, no dyes, no lye! EARTH FRIENDLY

Hard Working laundry soap that cuts to the chase of clean!!

My soap is concentrated which requires less packaging, less water and less energy! Old School Brand is amazing for hand washing, all machines and all temperatures!
One bag is $10.00 for up to 32 loads of laundry!
Now go ahead and hang your laundry out to dry, feel the Old School freshness that will bring back memories of a slower paced lifestyle.
Thank you for choosing Old School Brand!

Renee's take on design...

Inspired by Emma Goldman's quote, "I'd rather have roses on my table than diamonds on my neck", I founded Urbanscapes a landscape design company in 1996 servicing the Los Angeles area.
My specialty is drought tolerant gardens. I have always thought L.A. to be a desert thus creating gardens that thrive in our arid landscape. With each project my goal is to create master plans utilizing my reduce, reuse and recycle philosophy of conservation.
Since the formation of Urbanscapes I have created a few other sustainable design concepts, Rumplesacs, a reusable shopping bag line, Reconstruction, a found objects jewelry line, and of course Old School Brand Laundry Soap, an amazing laundry soap that really get's your clothes refreshingly clean with no junk added!
These projects are but a few ways I give back to community.
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